Physical Description

Depending how one hears the name, you might be inclined to think of an angel bathed in blood. Well, blood angels certainly have blood red wings and, occasionally, skin the color of blood. These wings are still made of feathers but some are known to be seen dripping blood. Some have even bloody looking horns curling out from their temples and other have eyes with no whites, just red. All blood angels have varying hues of red hair, sometimes so dark they are black. They typically stand with a wider variance of human heights, from 5 feet to over 6 feet. They are commonly light in build.

History

Blood angels are beings born of union of a tiefling and fallen angel. No one knows who gave birth to the first blood angel, but all remember his appearance in legend. During a war between two neighboring countries, an angel-like being with blood red skin and wings and long black hair appeared and slaughtered all who attempted to fight him. He was not aligned with either side, but the nations did not know that, and sent many forces to fight him, resulting in heavy casualties for both sides. Following the 86th battle in the war, he disappeared. However, by then, both sides of the fight agreed to lay down their arms, as the angel alone had crippled their forces so.

Blood angels are known to appear during wars and are heavily recognized as a sign that the conflict is due to end. The true result is often unknown, whether it is victory, loss or a draw for any one side. Throughout history, blood angels tend to either decimate all participating forces mercilessly or appear in places left ravaged by the violence to heal wounded. They seem to have a liminal presence which invites attacks from all around, as they are often unaligned. However, their appearance leaves such heavy losses everyone is forced to reckon with that it usually promotes cooperation between affected parties. Thus, it is believed blood angels serve as deterrent for war and a sign for understanding the weight of bloodshed.

Theorists like to speculate that, in a battle lost to time, a wounded tiefling stumbled upon the home of a fallen angel, not knowing the latter's true identity. The angel nursed the tiefling to health and, over the time the tiefling spent off the battlefield, they began to feel an affinity for each other. The angel, fallen and disillusioned, found war and such bloodshed wasteful, as it often prevented people from joining together to tackle bigger threats in life. The tiefling came to see that worldview as acceptable, admirable, even. The two of them, according to theorists, consummated and thus came to be the blood angel. The fallen angel's philosophy carried on in the descendants, who now then seem to strive to end bloodshed. This theory is often lambasted in major scholarly circles because it cannot explain why blood angels spill so much blood themselves very well.

Society

Blood angels are a rarity, so no specific society of blood angels exists. However, they are known to frequent countries that are either not in war, or deep in the thick of it. When they do so, they may try to hide their true nature to peruse in secret. People fear blood angels due to their reputation for mass murder. Some cities have a cult following for this race, however. They are believed to be bringers of peace by blood. By spilling blood, the path is cleaned for an era of nonviolence. Blood angels are sometimes complicit in these activities, making them criminals.

Blood Angel Traits

The child of a Tiefling and a Fallen Angel.Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1, and your Strength or Dexterity score increases by 1.Age. Unlike your fallen angel parent, you are mortal, however, you can live up to 10,000 years.Alignment. Blood angels tend to be neutral alignments and never take a specific side of the alignment spectrum.Size. Blood angels are usually between 5' 5" and 6' 5". Your size is Medium.Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a flying speed of 30 feet.Angel Wings. You have blood red wings similar to that of an angel but yours are notably smaller. These grant you a flying speed of 30 feet. You cannot use this flying speed if you are wearing medium or heavy armor or if you are encumbered.Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.Holy Resistance. You have resistance to radiant damage.Healing Touch. As an action you can touch a living creature, causing it to magically regain hit points equal to your level. Alternatively, instead of causing the creature to regain hit points, you can cure that creature of any poisoned, blindness, or deafness conditions currently affecting it. Once you have used this ability, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.Infernal Legacy. You know the thaumaturgy cantrip.Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, and your choice of Infernal or Celestial.